Government Affairs

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is active in government at the local, state and federal levels. In times of tough budgets, the Chamber has been able to get funding for items that help our members conduct their businesses. The Chamber is dedicated to making sure laws passed do not negatively affect our members or the business community. Our mission is to make Columbia an even better place to live, learn, work and play.

Government Affairs Documents

2023 Legislative Agenda Booklet

2023 Local Agenda Card

Government Affairs News

Columbia Chamber announces 2023 Local and Legislative Priorities

In December and January, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce released its 2023 Local and Legislative Priorities for the coming year. Each of these documents is a collaborative effort between the Chamber’s Government Affairs committee, staff, and Board of Directors, and it sets the Chamber’s priorities for working with local elected officials to move our community … Continued

Representing your business in state and local government

Did you know that as a Chamber member, you have a local lobbyist working on your behalf to protect the interests of the business community? One of the most significant benefits of your Chamber membership is that Chamber staff and the Government Affairs committee are working to represent your interests with city, county and state … Continued

Chamber Board recommends flyovers, minimal business disruption in I-70/63 interchange improvements

At their October 27 meeting, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to approve a letter to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Community Advisory Group. This letter outlines the Chamber’s official position on which of the proposed improvement plans to the I-70/63 interchange the Chamber supports. This recommendation was drafted by the … Continued

Chamber Endorses Use Tax Propositions

At their January meeting, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously voted to endorse the Internet Use Tax measures proposed by the City of Columbia and Boone County for the April 5 general election (known as Proposition 1 on both ballots). If passed, the measure will allow Columbia and Boone County to collect … Continued

What to Watch with the Vaccine Mandate

Last updated: January 18, 10:12 a.m. **As of our last update, the US Supreme Court has blocked the Biden Administration’s attempt to mandate vaccination for businesses with 100 or more employees, with the exception of some health care facilities. A full update can be found at the bottom of this post.** Since the beginning of … Continued

Wayfair & Broadband Development Updates

With only 3 weeks of session left, the Missouri House and Senate are churning away at a slew of legislative issues. Just this week there has been progress on transportation funding, Wayfair, broadband development, and liquor sales. On transportation funding, the House Transportation Committee held a hearing on SB262, sponsored by Senator Dave Schatz, which … Continued

Update on New Financial Relief & Wayfair

Federal Stimulus This week, with less than 100 days into President Joe Biden’s administration, Congress delivered on his 628-page, $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Non-business specific provisions included $350 billion in direct stimulus to cities and states, $170 billion for K-12 schools, $25 billion in rental assistance, and $100 billion for public health efforts – … Continued

2021 Legislative Session Update

The 2021 legislative session is in full swing after a rough first month in which each chamber battled COVID-19 outbreaks among staff and legislators alike. While that challenge is ongoing, the House and Senate have managed to continue their work. As always, all eyes are on the budget. Governor Parson’s proposed budget addresses many of … Continued

New COVID-19 Relief Package Breakdown

*This blog post was originally posted on December 22, 2020. It was updated on January 4, 2021. After eight months, Congressional leadership secured a deal for another COVID-19 relief package, as well as come to an agreement on annual defense funding and an overarching budget to fund the federal government through September 2021. The $900 … Continued

Rocheport Bridge & COVID-19 Liability

It has been a busy week for the State of Missouri. On Monday, MoDOT announced a formal timeline for the construction and completion of a new Rocheport Bridge on I-70. According to their release, construction will begin during the winter of 2021, with hopes of opening the new bridge to traffic by the summer of … Continued

Cast Your Vote: Election Day is Near!

Guest blog by Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon The November 3rd General Election is almost here! 2020 has been an unusual year in so many ways and elections have not been immune from the challenges posed by the national pandemic. As we’ve navigated through a rescheduled municipal election in June and an August primary election … Continued

Special Session Ends. Possibility of Another.

Almost a month ago, the Chamber reported on the Special Session called by Governor Mike Parson to address “violent crime” had taken yet another turn when the Missouri House of Representatives divided his six proposals into six separate bills. See our previous update for a detailed explanation of said six proposals. Although this process seemingly … Continued